According to Genesis, Noah first releases a raven to test whether the Flood waters have receded.
Genesis 8:7 says Noah sends out a raven after the Ark comes to rest. The raven goes back and forth until the waters dry from the earth. Noah then sends a dove in a separate sequence, making the raven the first bird released for this purpose.
The raven is often overshadowed by the dove because the dove later returns with an olive leaf, a widely recognized symbol of peace and renewal. In the biblical order, however, the raven comes first. The two birds also behave differently in the narrative: the raven’s movement is described broadly, while the dove’s repeated flights provide more specific signs about the condition of the land.